Donovan Dixon

If eating more whole foods is one of your goals this year then start with nutrient-dense kale! Kale is one of the healthiest foods in the world, packing in nutrients that help support your hair, skin, and nails as well as your bones. It's heart-healthy - thanks to its high potassium and fiber content - and, it's great for your digestive system. Most Americans need to add more dark green leafy vegetables, and kale is a tasty one to start with (it even has more nutritional value than spinach).

Kale is excellent in both sweet and savory preparations. Blend it up in a smoothie along with your favorite fruit, roast it in the oven and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast for healthy chips, or toss shreds into a soup. One of my favorite weeknight winter meals is simply a box of chicken or vegetable broth with white beans or chickpeas, a smoky chicken sausage sliced up, and loads of shredded kale. All year long we grill lacinato kale (also known as dino kale) sprayed with a bit of olive oil on the barbecue, then dress it with lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. It's the perfect salad served warm or cold and as a side or a main dish along with your favorite protein.

Below are some of our Foodista contributors' nutritious and delicious ways to prepare kale every day of the week.